1034-E - The role of oncogenic HMGA2 in promoting colorectal cancer progression through activation of its downstream targets

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Colon cancer is a common cancer in males and in females worldwide. Unfortunately, despite the progressive treatment developed, the survival rate of colon cancer patients in advanced or metastatic stage remains low. It is critical to explore the molecular mechanisms regulating tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer. HMGA2 is a small non-histone protein which contains three AT-hook domains that can modulate the transcription of genes. Although HMGA2 is associated with the progression of various cancers, few studies illustrated the downstream regulatory mechanisms of HMGA2 in cancer. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the role of HMGA2 and its downstream gene in colon cancer development. Microarray was applied to explore the genes that are activated along with HMGA2 upregulation, and A was identified as a putative target of HMGA2. The mRNA and protein levels of HMGA2 and A were investigated by qRT-PCR and western blotting assays. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed the regulation of HMGA2 towards promoter of downstream target A. The capacity of A in regulating cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in colorectal cancer cells were examined by MTS assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, transwell migration and invasion assay. Our results identified a novel downstream target of HMGA2, and brought us a better understanding of the role of HMGA2 in tumorigenesis of colon cancer. Tissue microarray was also applied to investigate the expression association between HMGA2 and A in colon cancer patients. In conclusion, our study suggested that HMGA2 promotes cell migration and invasion by activating A in colorectal cancer cells. HMGA2 and its downstream gene A are potential molecular targets of inhibitor for cancer therapy in the clinics.

ER-CHIEH CHO

Professor Cho received her DPhil degree from the University of Oxford, UK, and pursued her postdoctoral training at UCLA and cancer specific medical center at LA, USA. She is currently working at Taipei Medical University, and the main focus of her laboratory is in translational cancer research and nanomedicine.